Man charged with shooting ex-wife at UIC held without bail

November 27, 2011|By Rosemary Sobol | Tribune reporter

An Austin neighborhood man was ordered held without bail today after he fatally shot his 48-year-old ex-wife in the parking lot of the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center on Thursday night as she and two men were walking from work, prosecutors said today.

Earl Roberts, 47, who also was employed at the hospital as a housekeeper, was charged with first-degree murder for the slaying of Angela Bonds, 48, officials said. The two had been married but separated seven years ago and eventually divorced, prosecutors said in court.

On Thursday evening Bonds was leaving the hospital and walking to the parking area with two men, one of whom was her boyfriend, when Roberts ran up behind them while wearing a hoodie over his head, prosecutors said.

The hood fell down as he approached the three and they saw him produce a 357 revolver, prosecutors said.

At that point, the three began running towards the door leading to the parking lot, but Roberts shot Bonds once in the back and a second time in the head at about 11:45 p.m. at 1801 W. Taylor St. before she had a chance to get in the building, according to prosecutors.

Bonds, of the 3400 block of S. Harlem Avenue in Riverside, was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:40 a.m. Friday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

After shooting Bonds, Roberts began chasing the other men into the parking area, confronting the friend and chasing the boyfriend up a parking ramp, but did not shoot, prosecutors said.

The boyfriend hid in bushes and Roberts, 47, of the 5000 block of West Adams Street, fled as the hospital complex was put under lock-down and police SWAT team members combed the area. The lock down was lifted about 5 a.m. after that search came up empty, police and hospital officials said.

A hospital spokesman said police had conducted a "very thorough, room-by-room, top-to-bottom, roof-to-basement search," going through the complex multiple times.

Prosecutors said the next morning a university police officer saw Roberts get into the passenger’s side of a van. Police followed the van and curbed it near 14th and Damen but Roberts took off his jacket and fled on foot, tossing a gun over a fence.

He continued to flee until he was apprehended by a University police officer and a Chicago-based FBI agent who was on his way to work, prosecutors said.

Roberts was arrested about 6:30 a.m. Friday at 13th Street and Hoyne Avenue, about a half-mile from the shooting scene. Police also recovered a weapon.

There was no indication that the suspect ever entered the hospital after the shooting. In court, Roberts was dressed in hospital scrubs and did not say anything during the hearing.

A motive for the attack was not disclosed in court. Roberts was represented by a private attorney in court who said the suspect has a high school education and has worked for 22 years for the hospital in housekeeping. The attorney said Roberts has three children and attends church regularly.

Prosecutor said the entire incident was captured on video surveillance including when he tossed his jacket and gun.

According to court records, Roberts has a minor criminal record, pleading guilty to reckless conduct and weapons charges in 2008 and to possession of cannabis, speeding and DUI in July 2010. He was fined $275 and put on court supervision for a year on the former and was sentenced to a year of supervision and community service on the latter.

In addition, an order of protection was filed against him in 1992, but details of that case weren't available.

Prosecutors said Bonds and Roberts had been married about seven years ago and eventually were divorced.

Bonds' family members said the pair had been separated for years and were in the process of getting a divorce. They also said Bonds was engaged to another person.